ONE STEP AHEAD

Strong. Certain. Sovereign.

For the woman who owns her world.

OSA Training: Being Followed 

ALWAYS DO THIS! 

 

Welcome to Phase 3: Clarity

This is where you sharpen your tactical edge and take things to another level.

You’ve built a strong base and fortified it. Now you’ll apply it in real-world settings in the ways women fear the most.

Today is the first of those days. And this first move is going to really empower you in a skill that every woman needs to have - sorry, but that’s the world you and I have been born in. We need skills like this to thrive emotionally, economically, socially and physically.

 

Real Danger Is Behind You

 

I don’t want to scare you into thinking that every man who follows is a danger to you - but you can use this skill EVERY time someone is behind you, to empower yourself and put yourself one step ahead.

If you do not want someone behind you then do something about it!

It could be:

  • The corridor at work after a work event
  • At home in a domestic situation (being followed is a very common occurrence before and throughout an attack).
  • On the way to the bathroom of a restaurant
  • The street you walk every day
  • A hotel room
  • A quiet beach where a stranger has started to move towards you.

STEP 1: Being Followed?

MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!

 
 
  • You probably already do something like this. Let’s make it better.
  • Step aside casually (but tactically).
  • Move to the safer side if possible, leaving them the dangerous side.
  • With your back to the safer place - Give them enough space so they can walk past you.
  • Practice this with a partner or practice on your own. Visualise it if you can’t physically practice.
  • X 10 reps. Take your time. Relax. Let this technique get into your head.
  • Remember you can use it if someone is far behind you or even if someone suddenly appears behind you.

Extra Practice Prompt:
 Find a hallway, corridor, or even your living room - somewhere regular you walk along.
 Walk. Then practice shifting off to the safe side as if someone is behind you. Let them pass. Walk in the opposite direction or let them get far before you walk again. 


STEP 2: Hands Up!

The Covert Fence. 

 
  • Same psychology as The Obvious Fence we’ve used in Phase 1 - but less visible.
  • Mental and physical readiness without engagement is what we are aiming for here.
  • This looks like nothing but it means everything. This is a ready position - you are MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY READY. Although it might not look like it, he will actually sense you’re more difficult to get to.
  • The person in front of you - that is the person you need to be ready for so make sure your hands and brain are in switched on to deal with them.
  • NOTE: to refresh yourself on several variations of The Fence get to P67 of your training manual.
  • Practice this! X10.

Extra Practice Prompt:
 Try the Covert Fence in a mirror. Go over the book chapter where it shows several variations (P67), try a few, make up a few. Watch for police officers on the street using it (and some not using it and putting themselves in dangerous positions!)
 Looks casual, right? Feel the mindset and readiness that is behind this stance.

STEP 3: Disengage and Eat Cake 

 
  • You don’t owe anyone your time. Especially not a man you don’t know who has approached you while you’re alone and vulnerable.
  • Disengage if he comes towards you and tries to speak or get eye contact. Walk away. Say nothing. Or say something simple, that disengages the conversation, whilst you create distance and walk away.
  • Don’t get grabbed. Don’t get hit. Keep your distance. Create more distance.
  • Then go home and eat cake (or avocado on toast, I won’t judge you – I’ll just eat your portion of the cake!).
  • The only things he can do is to grab you or hit you. So keep your hands up to limit his chances even as you disengage and walk away to a safer distance.

Practice Prompt:


Put together the three stages above.
  

Someone approaches/is walking behind → Step aside → Raise the Covert Fence → Disengage, create distance, go home to eat cake. 


 

Note: Do this solo if you don’t have a training partner right now:

or visualise it if you’re stuck somewhere and can’t get up to do it.

Why it matters

 

Own this skill.

It’s really one of the most important, simple, useful and effective skills you can own.

 

I'm going to say it again (forgive me!):

Important.

SImple.

Useful.

Effective. 

 

Genuinely, I rate it as one of the most important skills in self defence, along with The Fence. Both these have got me out of trouble so many times, before it even started. And on those handful of occasions where it did start I had the upper hand. I was one step ahead because I knew what I was doing by using this tactic. 

 

Remember: You don’t want a gorilla on your back.
 So give him the chance to just walk by.

Tomorrow: We will review this info and get a deeper understanding of this whole tactic. (no training videos though!)